I'd have to say it all depends on the person and there level of dedication at trying something new. It took me about four years to start doing yoga on a regular basis. Before it was anywhere between one week to five months before I would pratice a set of poses. Now I do it almost everyday.
you know this is an interesting question . . . i agree with casper in the sense that it depends on the person and thier openness to trying something new - yoga is a very unique experience for the average joe. Something that is interesting to note about the masculine and femine of yoga and its history is that originally, 3,000-5,000 years ago, yoga was only for men. It was taught and practiced by primarily men, here and there through out history a female yogi saint would show up, but for the most part all the scriptures and writings were also by men and about men. Today, atleast in the USA, it is primarily a female base of students that practice yoga. . .
Thanks for the replies. I was being quite general. Women seem to be the more flexible, but men have more strength. I would have thought that flexibility would make yoga easier, but I don't know as I haven't had many men in my classes as yet! Obviously once a person has been doing yoga for some time then the above becomes irrelevant anyway. DB
it matters not that you are flexible or strong as a beginning student but that you work on your breathing...I'd think.
the purely physical aspect of yoga that is seen is both a balance between strength and flexibility. Breathing is also a physical aspect, but one that takes mental effort, and is not 'seen'. I agree with Apple, whether one is strong, or flexible, or neither, breathing is what opens the doors. One can be in full lotus or twisted into a pretzel and not be practicing yoga...
i didn´t knew that people still thought that woman and man were different in this kind of things... i don´t think this has something to do with the gender.. it depends on the person!! am i wrong?
Is Yoga about becoming a pretzel or is it a part of Hindu religious devotion? Either way, does it matter
I guess I still didn't make myself very clear on this! I just meant from day 1, would women or men who haven't done yoga before find the positions easiest? I was really just talking about the asanas. After that, the difference in the sexes would be irrelevant and it comes down to how you progress personally, through the breathing, the mental progress (meditation, chanting etc.) and the amount of practice also. It wasn't really an important question, just a very small musing. DB
When looking at yoga, I would say that the principals of yoga are much the same as those of traditional martial arts, just without the fighting... And I too think that on average women are 'better' at yoga than men, if you know what I mean...
well if its a power yoga class, i'd say men, cuz they would naturally have more endurance and strength. if its a slower, deep stretching class, then i'd say women. in response to lakshen, i completely agree with you regarding the martial arts. Except the only MA i know of that practices Ahimsa, or non violence, as Yoga does, is Aikido. Other than that most the MA i've learned have used the same manipulation/understanding/control of life force that is taught in yoga, tai chi, qui gung, etc. its basically pick your art and u will be on the path...
